Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 345

Chapter 345

Reven’s POV

I went back to my room with the clothes the Rough King had given me, my fingers trembling as I shut the door behind me. The fabric felt heavier than it should have, like it carried a curse sewn into every thread.

He wanted me to strip for his friends. Not because he desired it but because he wanted to break me in front of men who feared him just as much as they worshipped him.

My wolf stirred uneasily inside me.

You don’t have to do this, she whispered. Decline it. Take the punishment instead.

1 laughed bitterly, dropping the clothes on the bed. “Punishment?” 1 muttered under my breath. “My body is barely holding together as it is. One more punishment and I won’t survive it.”

Silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.

Stripping for his friends won’t end well, my wolf insisted. You know this. He enjoys watching others destroy what he already

owns.

I sat on the edge of the bed, burying my face in my hands. “I know,” I whispered. “But I need this.”

Need it? She echoed sharply.

“Yes,” I said, lifting my head. “I need access. I need to be close to one of them. Friends betray friends for money, for power…” I paused, my voice dropping. “And for a woman.”

And what makes you think any of his friends would betray him for you?

A slow, calculated smile touched my lips. “Because I know how men like them think,” I replied. “I know how to make them feel chosen.”

My wolf growled low in my chest, unconvinced. This path is dangerous.

“I’ve been walking dangerous paths since the day he dragged me into this pack,” I said quietly.

A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts.

I stiffened, then forced myself to stand. When I opened the door, Edna stood there, her hands clenched in from eyes darting nervously down the corridor.

“Edna” I asked softly. “Why are you here?”

She stepped inside quickly, shutting the door behind her as though the walls themselves were listening. Only then did I notice the fear etched deep into her face.

My stomach dropped. “Did he find out?” I asked immediately. “Does the Rough King know you helped me earlier?”

Her eyes widened. “No, no, it’s not that.”

I exhaled shakily. “I told you not to help me,” I said, guilt flooding my chest. “I didn’t want you punished for showing kindness. Now look, you’re scared. You’re going to suffer for it.”

“No one is punishing me,” she said quickly, shaking her head.

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Chapter 345

“Then why do you look like this?” I pressed.

She swallowed hard before whispering, “I heard what he asked you to do.”

My jaw tightened. “Strip for his party,” I said flatly. “Yes. That’s correct.”

She nodded slowly, her eyes glistening. “The last maid who did it…” Her voice broke. “He killed her.”

My heart skipped.

“She couldn’t make his friend… interested,” Edna continued, her voice barely audible. “And he killed her for it. Just like that.”

For a moment, the room felt too small to breathe in.

“I’m scared for you,” Edna said, stepping closer. “Even if we barely know each other, I don’t want you to die. I like your energy. Your strength. I don’t want it extinguished.”

I reached out and squeezed her hand. “Calm down,” I said gently. “I’m not going to be killed.”

She searched my face desperately. “How do you know?”

“Because,” I said evenly, “he’s not done with me yet. His revenge isn’t complete.”

My wolf scoffed. That doesn’t mean he won’t kill you.

Edna hesitated, then asked quietly, “Have you… done this before?”

I met her gaze without blinking. “Yes,” I lied smoothly. “I know what I’m doing.”

My wolf hissed inside my head. That’s a lie.

I know, I replied silently. But it’s the only thing keeping her calm.

And it worked.

Edna exhaled slowly, some tension leaving her shoulders. “Let me help you get ready,” she said. “Please.”

I nodded. “Alright.”

I excused myself and went into the bathroom. As soon as the door shut, my knees nearly gave out.

What if I fail?

What if he kills me before I even get the chance to escape?

I gripped the sink, staring at my reflection. “He won’t,” I whispered fiercely. “Not yet. Not when he still wants me to suffer.”

I stripped quickly and stepped under the water, letting it wash away my fear–at least for now. Time was against me. I bathed fast, scrubbing my skin until it tingled, forcing my thoughts into sharp focus.

This wasn’t just survival.

This was strategy.

When I stepped out, Edna was waiting, sitting quietly on the bed like a nervous guardian. She didn’t speak as she helped me dry my body, oiling my skin until it gleamed softly under the light.

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Chapter 445

“They won’t be able to look away,” she murmured, more to herself than to me.

She helped me into the outfit, pulling the zipper up slowly. When I turned to face the mirror, my breath caught

I looked dangerous

Too exposed. Too vulnerable.

“Shouldn’t you take off your necklace?” Edna asked gently.

I shook my head immediately. “No.”

“Why?”

“The people I love are in here,” I said, touching it softly. “I won’t risk losing it.”

She nodded in understanding and brushed my hair, letting it cascade down my waist. A little makeup. A touch of color on my lips.

When I looked at myself again, I barely recognized the woman staring back.

As we walked down the hallway together, I felt eyes on me. Some filled with disdain. Others with pity.

Edna leaned closer and whispered, “They’re looking at you like that because no one has pleased him in five years.”

I lifted my chin. “Then tonight,” I said calmly, “that changes.”

She hugged me tightly before letting go. “Come back alive,” she whispered.

“I will.” I promised.

The doors to the grand hall loomed ahead, voices spilling out–deep laughter, power–drunk arrogance, the presence of men who ruled through fear.

I took a deep breath.

This is for my freedom.

I touched my necklace one last time.

“For all of you,” I murmured.

Then I stepped forward toward the stage.

And the doors closed behind me.